Memories - John / Collin / Fred / Gladys / Valerie

JOHN DUDLEY 'Spud' FOX (1913 - 1919) recalls Charles Thacker as, ', ... an excellent teacher and strict disciplinarian, considered by most of us to be fair and just". Dudley, as he was known then, mentions Mr. Jepson who relieved Thacker for a period and another teacher of the senior classes, Miss Doe. Dudley was dux of the school in 1919. He also recalls how the boys of the district learned to swim in the old Blue Metal quarry (Dundas), which was begun with convict labour. Over the years it had filled with water. "The swimming was for boys only and always in the nude. The quarry was rumoured to be 92 metres,deep and 800 metres around the circumference." Dudley notes, "A saying prevalent at this time was as follows: - MOORE MOBBS of CATTS and FOXES under the GREENTREES. How true."

Letter from a soldier, somewhere in Belgium, 1918. (courtesy of Edith Thomas).

COLLIN BELLAMY (1918 - 1928) of Liverpool remembers many teachers. In particular, " 'Pat' Murphy - a lovely old man about 40, 'Poddy' Egan - most efficient caner and best teacher in my time, 'Dot' Goddard - friendly and an early humanist". Collin points out that, " ... one of the significant features of my time was the association of the school with the Church of England Homes (where the boys lived a very Spartan life indeed under the control of Mr. Cox) and St. Paul's Church". Mr. Gray was apparently a fanatic about singing and music lessons.

FRED CAVENDER (1921 - 1922) of Pennington, South Australia, points out that he was dux of the school in 1922. Headmaster Thacker presented Fred with a gold medal at a school gathering for this result. Fred writes, " ... the English Master was enthusiastic about my english compositions. I think his name was Thompson. This made quite a lot of enemies for me because, I suppose, I was a precocious little so and so". Fred has one rather unfortunate memory, " ... I came from England at the age of 11 years and was immediately dubbed a 'pommy bastard' both at Rose Bay School and later Carlo."

GLADYS KITCHING (nee WORRALL) (1922 - 1931) of Eastwood recalls sports days in Parramatta Park with maypole dances. Gladys remembers travelling by bus to Burnside School for cooking lessons.

VALERIE PURSER (nee MAHER) (1920's) of Toongabbie notes that, "My 7 brothers and 6 sisters (and myself) went to Carlingford school and so did my husband's 5 sisters and brother and our only daughter went there. When Mr. Gray was Headmaster, he was very interested in singing and we had a good choir". Valerie's sister, MURIEL HULBERT of Dulwich Hill remembers going to Granville Technical College for cooking lessons."

Carlingford School Vigoro Team, 1921 (Courtesy of Nell Cain)

Some 'Carlo' Old Boys and Girls. Front row, left to right, Vera Sonter (Nee Kells) 1915 - 1921, Eivy Catt (nee Smith) 1919 - 1928, Eunice Engall (nee Kirkett) 1910 - 1916, Bertha Pope (nee Whalley) 1915 - 917, Marjorie Williams, (nee Maher) 1911 - 1916, Honor Clarke (nee Tunks) 1915 - 1924, Younie Tunks 1919 - 1923, Frecia Wight (nee Gliddon) 1915 - 1925 and Assistant Teacher 1948. Middle row, left to right, Alwyn Shields 1919 - 1929, Cecil Kirk 1914 - 1922, Carl List 1911 - 1917 ' Kathleen Neasmith (nee Lamb) 1912 - 1919, Nell Flannery (nee Catt) 1920 - 1934, Joyce Watts 1912 - 1919, Bill Tunks 1913 - 1921, Nellie McCormack (nee Smith) 1924 - 1935, Neville Wicks 1920 - 1926, Clive Gliddon 1914 - 1923, Percy Johnson 1919 - 1924. Back row, left to right, Norman Dengate 1914 - 1920, Hedley Catt 1914 - 1921, Edwin Pound 1924 - 1932, Ainslie Pound 1924 - 1930, Waiter Ross 1919 - 1926, Ernle Bowerman 1920 - 1928, Gwen Rankin (nee Catt) 1923 - 1936.